FastLane ATM robber faces Ill. theft, arson charges

Posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at 9:38 am

Ronald Edwards

Ronald Eugene Edwards, who remains in the Audrain County Jail for the attempted theft of the ATM in Laddonia’s FastLane on January 3, has been linked with a slew of other Illinois ATM robberies.
Also facing two Illinois arson charges, Edwards has been implicated in four additional Illinois ATM thefts. Edwards may face more theft charges elsewhere in Illinois.
Edwards’ next Audrain County court appearance is slated for 9 a.m. March 4. Edwards, age 66, of Springfield, Ill., was arrested along with Cory Galloway, age 29, also of Springfield, Ill., after failing four times to rip the ATM out of FastLane with tow straps connected to a 2006 Chevy Avalanche.
An estimated $1,520 was in the ATM at the time of the attempted robbery. An estimated $3,000 worth of damage was done to the gas station, which was recently remodeled. Both men are being held at the Audrain County Jail on a $60,000 cash-only bond.
Audrain County Prosecutor Jacob Shellabarger said in January the two each face five felony charges:
• Class C felony burglary in the second degree
• Class D felony attempted theft of property with a value of more than $500 but less than $25,000 — the ATM cost $750
• Class D felony possession of burglary tools
• Class D felony property damage in the first degree
• Class D felony tampering with physical evidence in felony prosecution.
Edwards was paroled from Graham Correctional Center in Hillsboro, Ill., in May 2012 after serving half of a 40-year sentence for the 1975 murder of an Sangamon County Illinois Deputy, William Simmons.
The murder had remained unsolved until 1992 when Edwards confessed while serving a 20-year sentence in Arkansas for burglary.